?I am pleased that this agreement has been reached,? said Big East Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco.

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USA Today and Enquirer reports

Thirty-four years after its establishment as a premier basketball conference anchored around major East coast cities, the Big East name will live on in what officials expect to be another premier basketball conference anchored in major East coast cities.

Big East commissioner Michael Aresco announced Friday a split of the Big East effective July 1 with seven of the league's Catholic schools leaving to form their own basketball-dominated league that will take the Big East name and stage its postseason tournament at Madison Square Garden. ...